e able to talk more than you,
for I was a Princess,' replied the Grasshopper.

'Then you have met with the same fate as I have,' said he. 'But where
are you going now? Cannot we journey together?'

'I seemed to hear a voice in the air which said: "Be firm, happen what
may, and seek the Golden Branch,"' answered the Grasshopper, 'and I
thought the command must be for me, so I started at once, though I don't
know the way.'

At this moment their conversation was interrupted by two mice, who,
breathless from running, flung themselves headlong through the hole into
the tree, nearly crushing the Grasshopper and the Cricket, though they
got out of the way as fast as they could and stood up in a dark corner.

'Ah, Madam,' said the fatter of the two, 'I have such a pain in my side
from running so fast. How does your Highness find yourself?'

'I have pulled my tail off,' replied the younger Mouse, 'but as I should
still be on the sorcerer's table unless I had, I do not regret it. Are
we pursued, think you? How lucky we were to escape!'

'I only trust that we may escape cats and traps, and reach the Golden
Branch soon,' said the fat Mouse.

'You know the way then?' said the other.

'Oh dear, yes! as well as the way to my own house, Madam. This Golden
Branch is indeed a marvel, a single leaf from it makes one rich for
ever. It breaks enchantments, and makes all who approach it young and
beautiful. We must set out for it at the break of day.'

'May we have the honour of travelling with you--this respectable Cricket
and myself?' said the Grasshopper, stepping forward. 'We also are on a
pilgrimage to the Golden Branch.'

The Mice courteously assented, and after many polite speeches the whole
party fell asleep. With the earliest dawn they were on their way, and
though the Mice were in constant fear of being overtaken or trapped,
they reached the Golden Branch in safety.

It grew in the midst of a wonderful garden, all the paths of which were
strewn with pearls as big as peas. The roses were crimson diamonds, with
emerald leaves. The pomegranates were garnets, the marigolds topazes,
the daffodils yellow diamonds, the violets sapphires, the corn-flowers
turquoises, the tulips amethysts, opals and diamonds, so that the garden
borders blazed like the sun. The Golden Branch itself had become as tall
as a forest tree, and sparkled with ruby cherries to its topmost twig.
No sooner had the Grasshopper and the Cricket touched it tha